Tao Jin started his professional football career in 2006 with Shanghai Shenhua after graduating from their youth team.
He would have to wait until the 2008 league season before he would make his senior debut against Hangzhou Greentown F.C.
[1] Despite his limited playing time with Shanghai he was still included in Shanghai's 2009 AFC Champions League squad and under Jia Xiuquan as the new team manager would start to establish himself within the team's defence throughout the season.
[2] Shanghai Shenhua announced Tao's departure on 14 February 2019 when his contract expired.
[3] Statistics accurate as of match played 31 December 2018 [4] Shanghai Shenhua This biographical article related to association football in China, about a defender, is a stub.